About Palletized Trucking
Three generations of family leadership. 56+ years of moving freight across America.
The Palletized Story
From a borrowed truck and a rented lot to one of Houston's most trusted carriers - this is how it happened.
A Calculated Bet on the Future
A colleague approached Rex King about becoming partners in a trucking company. Rex and Marillyn saw the opportunity - and went all in. They sold their farm in Kansas, liquidated their savings and college funds, and bought 33% of the business. Two years later they increased their stake to 49%.
Frozen Out - and Fighting Back
After five years of hard work, the Kings were frozen out of the company through corporate maneuvering. Discouraged and broke at 45, Rex took a job at Continental Can in Florida while Marillyn worked as a secretary in Houston. Six months apart. Then they both came home - and their luck turned.
Palletized Trucking Is Born
The first weekend Rex was back in Houston, someone called needing freight moved. He rented a truck and trailer and did the job himself. The Kings then borrowed $5,000 against an insurance policy and got a small loan from a friend to buy their first truck. Mr. Rose of J.H. Rose Trucking let them use a lot for free - as long as the family kept it clean and mowed. Palletized Trucking was born.
The First Terminal on Irvington
The original Palletized lot on Irvington - where it all started. A truck, a lot, and a family determined to make it work.
First Terminal - An Old Filling Station
Rex and Marillyn purchased their first terminal: a one-acre lot with an old filling station on Irvington. Rex dispatched trucks from the un-air-conditioned station for a full year until they could afford to remodel. Three employees came to work at their home every day. Rex marketed, dispatched, and often drove the trucks himself. Marillyn handled billing, payroll, and accounting - all of it.
Heavy Haul from the Start
Long before heavy haul became a specialty service, Palletized was already moving oversized loads across Texas. The winch truck and flatbed operations that would define a major part of the business were well underway by the mid-1970s.
Growing the Irvington Operation
By 1977 the Irvington terminal was a full operation - trucks coming and going, a real dispatch office, and a team that was growing alongside the business.
Breaking Ground on Collingsworth
As the fleet outgrew the small lot, the Kings purchased 10 acres on Collingsworth Drive in 1978. In 1979, Rex, Marillyn, Michael, and Sally proudly supervised the groundbreaking of their new terminal. That building still serves as Palletized's Corporate Headquarters today - more than 45 years later.
Collingsworth Terminal Under Construction
Steel going up on the new Collingsworth headquarters. What started as a borrowed lot and an old filling station was becoming a real terminal - built to last.
Building the Fleet and the Family
Through the 1980s, Rex and Marillyn steadily grew the fleet and expanded their customer base across Houston. Their children - Ron, Mike, and Sally - grew up in the business, learning every aspect of trucking from the ground up. The family culture that defines Palletized today was forged in this era.
A Decade of Explosive Growth
Deregulation opened new markets and Houston's economy was booming. Over a 10-year span, the King family tripled their sales and expanded into markets they had never been in before - adding equipment, terminals, and services that would define the modern Palletized.
Passing the Torch
Rex and Marillyn recognized it was time to put their succession plan into action. With their children and grandchildren actively involved in the business, they saw a perfect opportunity to step back. Tragically, their eldest son Ron was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and passed away shortly thereafter - a profound loss for the family and the company.
50 Years Strong
Palletized Trucking celebrated its 50th anniversary - a milestone few family-owned carriers ever reach. Five decades of keeping promises, moving freight, and building relationships across Houston and beyond. Rex and Marillyn's original values: safety, reliability, and family - still the foundation of everything.
Third Generation Leadership
Under the joint leadership of CEO Mike King and President Jessica King, Palletized has evolved into a multi-service company providing transportation, storage, and specialized heavy haul services across the contiguous 48 states. Brady King works in Operations. Kolby King Rodriguez serves as Accounting Associate. The family is actively cultivating the next generation of leaders committed to the values Rex and Marillyn built.
Then & Now
The Evolution of Our Brand
Same family. Same phone number. A new identity built for the next generation.
